LAPD reportedly arrested 40 people and seized dozens of vehicles in crackdown on street hijacking


EAST COMPTON, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 14: Early morning street takeover at Compton Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue in East Compton on Sunday, August 14, 2022 creates a festive atmosphere as crowds in the hundreds watch. I'm here. Hijacking is on the rise, and residents say law enforcement isn't doing enough to stop it. Some residents continue through the night, saying the event is dangerous. Some spectators said they felt like they weren't bothering anyone and only happened at night when the streets were empty. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)

Early morning street occupation at Compton Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue in East Compton on August 14th. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles police have arrested 40 people in two days as part of their crackdown on illegal street occupancy. According to a report by the KTTV-TV channel 11.

Investigations on Friday and Saturday led to the arrest of one suspect in attempted murder and one suspect in a hit-and-run, police said.

The LAPD said many of the takeovers were stopped before they started and dozens of cars were seized, the agency reported.

Hijacks, also known as sideshows, have skyrocketed since the COVID-19 pandemic began, emptying the streets. for the past eight months, 6 people died At or near the event.

Los Angeles has reported 500 street break-ins in the first six months of 2021, according to LAPD data. The number surged to 705 during the same period this year, according to police reports.

Los Angeles Police Commissioner Michelle Moore said a crackdown alone would not solve the problem.

“We are not going to arrest the way out of this,” he said at a recent police commission meeting. We are witnessing the spread of incidents.”

This story originally appeared los angeles times.